Daren lacked punch in his loss to Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen while Wei Feng and Arif could not even take a game off Indonesian veteran Sony Dwi Kuncoro and Japan’s Kenichi Tago respectively.

Independent players – Misbun Ramdan Misbun, Zulfadli Zulkifli and Tan Chun Seang – had mixed fortunes. Ramdan, who left the BAM set-up on Jan 9, did not make the main draw while Chun Seang and Zulfadli did not clear the opening round.

Mumbai: Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal, who became the world number 2 last week after a gap of two years, on Tuesday said she is aiming for the top slot this year.

"I am working hard and performances are coming. Now that I am number 2, I will definitely reach number 1," Saina told reporters on the sidelines of Samsung Galaxy Grand event launch here.

"There are so many tournaments this year. Almost 15-20 tournaments. The goal is to perform well in all the events and do well in the World Championships, which is important. World number 1 is also my aim, so hopefully I will achieve it. Let's see," she added.

Asked how she keeps herself motivated, the Olympic bronze medallist said, "It's a difficult job to do. Chinese are really tough to play against. The number one is also Chinese, with almost 12,000 points more than me. It is not easy to become world number one. I will try to do it. Nothing is impossible.

"I have made many things possible, so I hope I can make this also possible. The amount of hard work which I put in my game is really important. Motivation comes from winning, and that is what keeps me going," she said.

A title in the Maybank Malaysia Open 2013 last weekend ended Indonesia’s success drought and the Indonesia Badminton Association is aiming to satiate its hunger for more titles by offering a bonus to the best shuttler.

Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan won the Malaysia Open men’s doubles title after defeating Ko Sung-hyun and Lee Yong-dae of South Korea, 21-15, 21-13, giving Indonesia its only title in the event.

With the ambition of reclaiming the country’s golden era, the Indonesia Badminton Association (PBSI) has been trying to find ways to boost shuttlers’ performances, including revising the salary schemes for athletes and coaches.

But the PBSI is now pushing even further by offering Rp 1 billion ($104,000) in purse money to the shuttler with the best achievement at the end of each year, PBSI chairman Gita Wirjawan said.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jan. 20 - Rising badminton star Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan won her first title of 2013 by defeating Yao Xue of China in straight sets in the final of the women's singles event at the Malaysia Open Sunday.

Tai, ranked 12th in the world and seeded sixth in Kuala Lumpur, needed 36 minutes to beat the world No. 151 Yao 21-17, 21-14.

The 18-year-old put together an impressive string of victories over third seed Tine Baun of Denmark, top seed Saina Nehwal of India and the up-and-coming Yao to claim the title, winning all three matches without dropping a set.

Tai said she will ask her parents to hold on to the US$30,000 in prize money she earned for winning the tournament.